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Mother Nature is holding out as thousands of skiers and snowboarders patiently wait for the season to get started. These next few weeks are forecasted to have unusually warm weather. The Chicopee Operations Team has gone through and tested all our snowmaking systems, and are ready and waiting for our first cold spell.

To fight against the now volatile weather patterns of the last few years, Chicopee has invested over $400,000 into new state-of-the-art, high efficiency snow guns. These guns allow us to make snow at higher temperatures (-2c to -3c, but not 10c!) and are much more energy efficient in doing so.

With the new snow guns and cold temperatures last season, we found that we could almost completely deplete our water supply in 10 days of snowmaking. It would take us up to 3 weeks to restore the ponds and water supply. To rectify this vulnerability, we drilled a new well deep in the bedrock, which means we’ll be able to produce approximately 3x the volume of water. This means we’ll have all the water we need for snowmaking.

So the million dollar question, when will we be open? At this point only Mother Nature can answer that. Stay tuned to our social media channels and e-newsletter for the latest updates. We will be announcing our opening once a date is confirmed.

In a time when kids are choosing to spend more time in front of a screen instead of going outside, it’s becoming more important to ensure they stay physically active. According to a survey by Participaction, children up to the age of 12 spend an average of 8 hours in front of a screen every day. Summer camps are perfect for getting any kids off the couch and away from technology.

Summer camps help kids get the most of their summer vacation in ways that let them have fun while also providing an excellent learning experience. Instead of studying history or math, they’re learning leadership or problem solving skills. Instead of science or geography, they’re learning social skills. Summer camps provide kids with opportunities for personal growth by helping them develop these important life skills.

Summer camps also have physical activity benefits. The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines recommend that youth aged 5 to 17 have at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. According to a Canadian Health Measures Survey, only 5% of youth aged 5 to 17 meet these recommendations. Summer camps help surpass these recommendations by providing active experiences that are fun for kids of all ages. From tennis to ropes courses to biking, there are so many ways to keep kids active. With a range of activities for them to explore, their experience differs day to day keeping them engaged.

Summer camps go above and beyond by bringing learning, physical activity, and fun together in one great experience. From making new friends to discovering new hobbies like climbing or volleyball, summer camps provide so many opportunities for kids to enjoy and explore all in one great program. So is summer camp the best option for your child? The answer is yes!

Arguably the best part about summer camps is that they can do all of this without breaking the bank. So if you’re worried about the cost, then we have good news for you! There are multiple benefits from the Canadian Government that can be used to help pay for children’s care in programs like summer camps. For example, the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) is increasing and expanding by giving parents $160 in benefits per month (up to $1,920 a year) for each child under the age of six, and adding a new benefit of $60 per month (up to $720 a year) for each child aged six through 17.

In addition to this, the Government is doubling the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit (CFTC) and making it refundable to help families with the costs of fitness activities, like summer camps. There is now a $1,000 limit for the year that is refundable starting this year. Summer camps can also be claimed under the child care expenses deduction section of your taxes.

There’s even more good news! Chicopee’s summer camps fall under the CFTC so families can be reimbursed for the money they put towards our summer camps. Sounds like getting your cake and eating it too!
Here at Chicopee, we offer some exciting summer camps for kids born between 2002 and 2011. Our camps are designed for campers who enjoy being active in the great outdoors and feature a wide range of activities. A week at a Chicopee summer camp can include: climbing, biking, beach volleyball, tennis, low ropes, high ropes, field sports, disc golf, team building games, crafts, and more!

Check out our summer camp programs and sign your kids up today for a summer of fun at Chicopee!

Since the 1960s when snowboarding was invented, there has been an ongoing debate over whether skiing or snowboarding is the better winter sport. When snowboarding made its debut to ski resorts in the 1980s, not everyone extended a friendly welcome to the new sport. For years there was a rivalry between skiers and snowboarders. Snowboarders thought skiers were snobs, since skiing was more of a high class sport back then. Skiers thought snowboarders were rude because they didn’t think snowboarders respected the hill-etiquette. But of course, there is always more than one side to every story.

Back in 1995, Chicopee opened its hills to snowboarders for the first time. Although skiers and snowboarders now use the hills together without issue, it wasn’t always that way. For a while there was noticeable tension between the athletes and even though some didn’t mind the addition of snowboarding to the hills, others chose to express a more aggressive attitude to the newcomers.

As the years went by, the rivalry faded. The slopes once again became a place of peace where individuals of either sport could enjoy the hills and do what they love. Snowboarding has been a part of Chicopee for 20 years now, and Chicopee wouldn’t be the same without it.

A major contributor to the rivalry fading is acceptance by both snowboarders and skiers that the other is just as much of a sport and is actually quite similar. Skiers can do most of the tricks that snowboarders can do, and vice versa.

So if you’re trying to decide whether you want to learn to ski or snowboard, both have their benefits. The following is a breakdown of skiing and snowboarding to help chose the right sport for you.

Learning the Sport: Skiing is generally easier to learn than snowboarding, but skiing is harder to master. With snowboarding, once you’ve got the balance part down the rest comes more naturally. Balance is easier with skiing, especially when you use poles, and harder with snowboarding because you only have one board to stand on.

Injuries: For skiing, the most common injury is of the knee. With snowboarding, the most frequent injuries are of the wrist. These injuries come from falling while skiing or snowboarding. As with any sport, the risk of injury decreases as the athlete becomes better at that sport. That being said, accidents do happen and everyone should always be careful and be aware of their surroundings.

Other Aspects: For those seeking speed, skiing actually achieves faster speeds than snowboarding. Skiing also performs better on harder and icy surfaces, whereas snowboarding excels in fresh powder or slush. When maneuvering around the hills, skiing is considered easier as well. Snowboarders have to move themselves around by taking one foot out of their bindings to push themselves across the ground, whereas skiers can just use their poles. In addition, snowboarders have to pause at the top of the hills to put their foot back into their bindings, whereas skiers can go straight down the hill.

Still don’t know which sport you want to try? Chicopee offers $29 Discover Packages every Monday after 5pm, which include rentals, a beginner lift ticket, and a lesson. They’re perfect for trying out skiing or snowboarding for the first time!